The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce today made its first attraction announcement of the year, saying that Alpla Inc. will hire 72 employees for an operation in a building constructed on speculation in the Kentucky Transpark.

The Austria-based company makes plastic packaging for the beverage, motor oil, cleaning supplies and other industries. Alpla will supply bottles used in packaging for Bowling Green's Sun Products.

The company will invest $22.4 million to buy the building from the Bowling Green Area Economic Development Authority, constructing an interior to suit its manufacturing and purchasing equipment.

"They are already hiring some key positions," said Ron Bunch, president and CEO of the chamber. "They plan to be operational this summer."

Bunch said the company is reviewing bids for the build-out of the 105,000-square-foot building that was constructed to be easily doubled in space.

Expansion is not in the company's immediate plans.

"But as is the case with any company, we will work closely with them for any expansion," Bunch said.

The company in October was given preliminary approval from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority for $1.92 million in state and local payroll tax incentives and $81,000 in sales taxes to be recovered on the cost of construction. Alpla has a U.S. base in McDonough, Ga., and a facility in Florence. At the time of the incentive approval, the company also was considering sites in middle Tennessee.

"We are pleased to be expanding our manufacturing operations in Kentucky," Alpla North America President Jodok Schaeffler said in a news release. "We appreciate the support from the community and the dedicated employees from KEDFA in making this expansion possible."

The plastics industry is an area where the chamber is focusing its recruiting efforts.

"Southcentral Kentucky's cluster of plastic-related industries continues with Alpla's announcement today," D. Gaines Penn, chairman of the Bowling Green Area Economic Development Authority, said in a news release. "Their decision shows that globally competitive industries know our region is the best place to produce the highest quality products everywhere."

While this is the first attraction announcement of the year, the chamber in 2012 announced projects that would provide 537 jobs and invest $45.6 million in the community.

"I think we will have another couple more announcements in the next 60 to 90 days," Bunch said.